Debate contribution: Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
Debate contribution by Mr Alan Chambers on .
- MLA
- Mr Alan Chambers
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 19 January 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Opposition Business
- Heading
- Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5322804
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I was not due to speak on this motion, but, unfortunately, our chosen Member to speak was called away, so the privilege has fallen on me, on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, to warmly welcome the fleadh coming to Belfast in August this year. It will provide a major economic boost to the city and, more importantly, create a feel-good factor. I congratulate those who put together the successful bid. The committee includes members of the McClean family from the Bangor and Ards area. I am confident that they will deliver a memorable event. That family give freely of their time to encourage and teach young musicians in the Bangor and Ards area. I thank them for that. When the fleadh was held in Wexford last year, 800,000 people visited it, and I am told that it provided an economic boost of €60 million. Tourism Northern Ireland forecasts that it will bring £60 million into the local economy. Bangor will also benefit: as we have heard, it will host a one-day fringe event. I love traditional music. Ulster-Scots emigrants took many of the tunes and reels to America with them, and they came back to us as bluegrass and country music, which is another genre of music that I really appreciate. I am looking forward to August, particularly to the weekend before the launch of the fleadh in Belfast, when there will be a fringe event in Bangor. The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association will hold its biennial event in Bangor on the same day and will march through the town at its conclusion. I am really looking forward to that. What a musical treat, and what diversity of music tradition, for the people of not just Bangor but Northern Ireland to look forward to.
296 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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